Track toy

ABSTRACT

A TOY VEHICLE AND TRACKWAY THEREFORE ARE PROVIDED IN WHICH COMPRESSED AIR IS UTILIZED AS A MEDIUM FOR PROPULSION OF THE TOY ALONG THE TRACKWAY. IN ONE FORM, THE TRACKWAY IS AN ELONGATED EXTRUSION, SUCH AS A RECTANGULAR, HOLLOW TUBE, CONTAINING HOLES DRILLED THROUGH A WALL THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE TUBE AND DIRECTED SO AS TO PERMIT AIR PUMPED INTO THE TUBE TO BE EJECT AS A PLURALITY OF JET STREAMS UPWARDLY ANS IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A LIGHTWEIGHT SHELL HAVING ONE OR MORE PORTIONS CONFORMING TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE TRACK OF TRACKWAY AND ADAPTED TO NORMALLY REST WITH ONE OR MORE UNDERSURFACES OF THE VEHICLE ABUTTING OR DISPOSED IMMEDIATELY OFF THE SURFACE OF THE TRACK. AIR PUMPED INTO TRACK IS DIRECTED THROUGH THE HOLES IN THE WALL THEREOF UPWARDLY AGAINST THE CONFORMING SURFACE OF THE VEHICLE AND IS OPERATIVE TO BOTH LIFT THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE IT TO TRAVEL ALONG THE TRACK. THE TRACK MAY BE MADE OF FLEXIBLE OR RIGID MATERIAL. IF FLEXIBLE, IT MAY CONTAIN A BENDABLE METAL WIRE SO THAT IT MAY BE BENT AND RETAINED IN A PARTICULAR CURVED CONFIGURATION. IN ANOTHER FORM, THE TRACK IS IN THE SHAPE OF A HOLLOW MONORAIL SUPPORTED AT SPACED INTERVALS ABOVE A SURFACE BY MEANS OF POLES AND THE VEHICLE IS SUSPENDED FROM A CARRIAGE WHICH IS DRIVEN ALONG THE MONORAIL BY AIR EJECTED UPWARDLY THROUGH HOLES IN THE UPPER WALL OF THE MONORAIL.

Oct. 12, 1971 J, LEMELSQN 3,611,622

TRACK TOY Filed Feb. 16, 1970 INVENTOR. JEROME H.LEMELSON United States Paton 3,611,622 Patented Get. 12, 1971 3,611,622 TRACK TOY Jerome H. lLemelson, 85 Rector St.,

Metuchen, NJ. 08840 lFrled Feb. 16, 1970, Ser. No. 11,562 Int. Cl. A63h 29/16 11.5. Cl. 4644 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toy vehicle and trackway therefore are provided in which compressed air is utilized as a medium for propulsion of the toy along the trackway. In one form, the trackway is an elongated extrusion, such as a rectangular, hollow tube, containing holes drilled through a wall thereof substantially along the length of the tube and directed so as to permit air pumped into the tube to be ejected as a plurality of jet streams upwardly and in the direction of movement of the vehicle. The vehicle is a lightweight shell having one or more portions conforming to the configuration of the track or trackway and adapted to normally rest with one or more undersurfaces of the vehicle abutting or disposed immediately off the surface of the track. Arr pumped into the track is directed through the holes in the wall thereof upwardly against the conforming surface of the vehicle and is operative to both lift the vehicle and cause it to travel along the track. The track may be made of flexible or rigid material. If flexible, it may contain a bendable metal wire so that it may be bent and retained in a particular curved configuration.

In another form, the track is in the shape of a hollow monorail supported at spaced intervals above a surface by means of poles and the vehicle is suspended from a carriage which is driven along the monorail by air ejected upiilivardly through holes in the upper wall of the monora SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a track toy including a vehicle and a track way for guiding said vehicle in travel along said trackway. In particular, the trackway or vehicle guide of the instant invention is an elongated hollow duct provided with a plurality of holes through the upper wall thereof for ejecting jets of air from the passageway extending through the track when properly pressurized. The jets of air are operative to float the vehicle above the track and propel it longitudinally along the track.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved trackway toy for propelling and guiding a vehicle along a fixed path.

Another object is to provide a track toy and propulsion means for a vehicle traveling an elongated track thereof which propulsion means is not directly associated with the vehicle itself.

Another object is to provide a track toy including a track containing means for ejecting air upwardly and in the direction of travel of the vehicle along said track in such a manner as to both lift the vehicle and cause it to be propelled longitudinally along the track.

Another object is to provide an improved jet propulsion track toy in which a guide or track for a vehicle is selectively adjustable as to shape.

Another object is to provide a new and improved monorail propulsion system applicable to toys as well as fullscale vehicles.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter more fully appear, the invention consists of the novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein are shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a toy track and vehicle riding thereon constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in cross section of a fragment of a toy vehicle and track guide means therefor;

FIG. 3 is a side view with parts broken away for clarity of the track shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes an airpressurizing means operatively coupled to one end of the track;

FIG. 4 is an end cross-sectional view of a modified form of the track of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is an end cross-sectional view of a modified form of the track of the instant invention and a modified vehicle operative to ride therealong;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view in cross section of a fragment of a toy trackway which is a modified form of that illustrated in FIG. 1 and contains means for driving a toy vehicle longitudinally therealong in either direction;

FIG. 7 is an end view of another form of trackway having upwardly extending guides for a toy vehicle;

FIG. 8 is an end view of yet another form of trackway containing features of the instant invention;

FIG. 9 is an end view of a monorail trackway and vehicle riding therealong; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of the vehicle and track of FIG. 9.

There is shown in FIG. 1 a toy arrangement 10 comprising an elongated track or guide way 11 having sloping side walls 12 and 13 the lower peripheral edges 12 and 13 of which are adapted to rest on a surface such as the top of a table or floor thereby presenting the upper wall 14 of the trackway substantially parallel to the supporting surface. Thus, if the supporting surface is horizontal, the upper wall 14 will also be substantially horizontal. The central portion 15 of the track 11 contains a passageway 16 extending completely through the track from one end to the other and, in the particular embodiment of FIG. 1, a soft metal wire 18 between A and inch in diameter, which is utilized to permit the track 11 to be bent and to retain the bent configuration such as to permit the track to be deformed and conform to curves and other shapes. The wire 18 may be made of soft aluminum, copper or lead.

Extending upwardly through the upper wall 14 of the track 11 are a plurality of holes 117 which communicate the passageway 16 with the volume immediately above the upper wall 14. The holes are angulated in the direction of movement of the vehicle along the track so that air pumped into the passageway 16 will be directed as a plurality of streams or jets which may react on the vehicle to lift it a short distance above the track so that the vehicle disengages all surfaces and react upon said vehicle in a manner to propel it, as it is lifted along the track.

Details of the construction of the vehicle 26 are shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 which illustrate different embodi ments of the vehicle. In FIG. 1, the vehicle 26 is composed of a hollow, lightweight body 26' having a channel-like formation 28 extending downwardly from and along the length of the vehicle. The channel-like formation 28 has sloping side walls 29a and 29b and a top wall 30 which substantially conform to the upper portion of the side walls 12 and 13 and the top wall 14 of the trackway 11. When air, under sutficient pressure, is pumped through the passageway 16 and ejects as a plurality of narrow jet streams through the holes 17 in the track, it is operative to lift the vehicle 26 a brief distance above the track, perhaps several thousandths of an inch to A of an inch,

so as to clear all surfaces of the vehicle from either the surfaces of the track or the surface upon which the track rests, depending on the relative configurations of the vehicle and the track.

In FIG. 2, the wall 30 of the channel-like formation 28 of the vehicle 26 contains a plurality of rib-like formations 27 at spaced-apart intervals along the wall 30 which formations serve to provide separate chambers 27' between the upper wall 14 and wall 30 so as to substantially confine air ejected through the holes 17 between the vehicle and the track and thereby increase the jet propulsion efiiciency. The ribs 27 are spaced apart such that at least one hole 17 is disposed between each two ribs at any time during the travel of the vehicle along the track except when one or more of said holes are in direct alignment of the rib 27.

Notation 18h of FIG. 2 refers to a hole disposed in the side or bottom wall of the passageway 16 into which hole an inlet tube may be inserted or secured by means of a coupling to provide compressed air to the passageway 16 for propelling the vehicle therealong.

In FIG. 3, one end of the track 11 is shown stopped off with a plug 20 forming part of an end plate 19 frictionally secured therein. A projecting portion 19 of the end plate 19 protrudes upwardly from the track and may serve to stop a vehicle riding therealong. The other end of the track 11 is provided with a coupling 21 having a plug portion 22 frictionally engaged in the end hole of the track and a head portion 23 to which is secured a flexible plastic tube 24 which extends from a pump or fan 25 for pumping air under pressure through the track passageway 16 to eject the streams S of air upwardly and in the direction of movement of the vehicle along the trackway.

As stated, the pump inlet line 24 may be operatively connected "to the track 11 through an opening in the side wall or bottom wall thereof and the track 11 may extend in an endless loop to permit the vehicle or vehicles to be continuously driven around the loop.

In FIG. 4, the track or guideway 11a is illustrated as being of substantially rectangular configuration with a fiat bottom wall and flat-parallel side walls. Notation 16 refers to the passageway extending through the upper portion of the rectangular track 11a and 17 to said plurality of holes extending upwardly and angled in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The vehicle 31 is shown as composed of a lightweight upper structure and parallel side walls or guide ways 32 and 33 for guiding the vehicle along the track and preventing it from jumping or disengaging said track.

In FIG. 5, the track 11b is shown as having a substantially triangular cross-section having an upper chamber 16' extending longitudinally along the track and a s ft, flat bendable wire 17 disposed within the extrusion beneath the passageway 16'. r

A plurality of small holes 17 are drilled or otherwise provided in the apex portion 110 of the track to lift the vehicle and direct it longitudinally along the track.

-In FIG. 6 is shown a modified form of toy track denoted 110 having inwardly sloping side walls 12c and 13c connected to a top wall 140 and defining two parallel passageways 16a and 16b formed of the upper portions of the side walls, a central partition wall portion 15' and a lateral wall portion 15" extending between the side walls 120 and 130. The trackway 110 may be formed by extruding rigid or flexible plastic or metal such as aluminum to contain the passageways 16a and 16b and may also include a bendable wire member extruded in situ in an extension of the lateral partition portion 15".

Drilled or punched in the upper wall 140 are a plurality of first holes 17a extending upwardly and sloped in one direction along the length of the track 110. The holes 170: serve as small passageways for ejecting air from the longitudinal passageway 16a in one direction along the track 110 for propelling a vehicle therealong in said one direction as described. A plurality of second holes 17b extend between the passageway 16b and the volume above the upper surface of the top wall 14a of the trackway and slope in the direction opposite to that in which the holes 17a slope.

By connecting respective outputs of a two-way valve to respective of the passageways 16a and 16b with the input of the valve extending to a pump or fan, and suitably selectively controlling the valve to cause air to pass therethrough into either of the passageways, a vehicle may be propelled selectively in either direction along the trackway 110, depending on which of the passageways, 16a or 16b, receive air under pressure.

In FIG. 7 is shown another form of trackway 11d in cross section having a longitudinal passageway 16' extending therealong and having a flat bottom wall 14' which, when disposed on a surface such as a table top or the floor, disposes the side Walls of the trackway in the vertical attitude illustrated with extensions 12d and 13d thereof extending above the upper wall 14" in which small holes are drilled or punched at spaced intervals along the extrusion as described. Thus, if a vehicle is disposed within the channel-like formation defined by the extensions 12d and 13d of the side walls and the upper wall 14", it may be propelled longitudinally along said trackway as described with the extensions 12d and 13d serving to guide same. A complete vehicle or a downwardly extending portion of a vehicle may be inserted into a channel-like volume defined by wall portions 12d, 13d and 14".

In FIG. 8, a track 37 is shown having a substantially, flat, sheet-like central portion 38 and edge portions 38a and 38b integrally formed therewith. A central conduit portion 39 contains a passageway 39' longitudinally there? through and a plurality of small holes 17' extending in the upper wall of the passageway portion 39 for directing air upwardly against a shaped bottom portion of the vehicle and in the direction of travel of the vehicle for the purpose described.

The track configurations described are preferably made by extruding a plastic material, preferably, although not necessarily a flexible plastic in a manner to have said elongated passageway permanently deformed therein and, in certain instances, said flexible, bendable metal wire extending the length of the track. A toy vehicle guided by the side guides 38a and 38b may be virtually lifted and may travel the length of the track when suflicient air is passed through the passageway of the central formation 39'.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 is shown a monorail system 40 for supporting, guiding and propelling a suspended vehicle from the monorail. The monorail 47 is shown as having a substantially rectangular cross-section defining a passageway 48 extending completely through the monorail. A plurality of holes 49 are formed in the upper wall of the track 47 and are directed in the direction of travel of the vehicle. A flange portion 50 of the hollow track 47 may be utilized to fasten said track to the head 52 of an upright pillar or pole 51 which is one of a plurality of such pillars extending along the length of the track for supporting said track in a desired configuration.

Suspended above the monorail portion 47 is a carriage 43 for supporting a monorail vehicle 41 from above. One or more arm members 46 extend outwardly and downwardly from the carriage 43 and support the vehicle 41 therebeneath. Air introduced under sufiicient pressure into the passageway 48 of the track 47 is directed upwardly through a plurality of small holes 49, holes in the upper wall of the monorail track and is utilized to float the carriage 43 above said monorail and directs it longitudinally along the monorail as described.

It is noted that the means described and illustrated in accompanying drawings or modifications thereto may be applied to the conveyance of other objects, articles or material by air along defined guideways. Where the length of the track or guideway may result in the loss of a substantial amount of air which would not be sufficient to support and drive a vehicle along the entire length thereof, a plurality of air compressors or turbines may be disposed in the system at spaced intervals along the trackway or connected to respective spaced interval portions of the trackway to provide upwardly directed jets of air of sufiicient velocity and fiow along the entire trackway to support and propell one or more vehicles simultaneously therealong. All such compressors may be operated continuously or in response to controls sensing the presence of a vehicle at or in advance of that section of trackway operative to receive air under pressure from the next compressor to be operated.

In another embodiment, the openings 17, 49, etc. in the top wall of the trackway may each contain a valve such as a spring closed ball valve or other form of simple valve having a slow-to-close after opening means for directing air upwardly and in the direction of travel of the vehicle when the vehicle is above the valve. Such valves may be opened by engagement therewith or the ball portion of the valve by a downwardly projecting portion of the vehicle such as an arm or Wheel engaging and opening or holding open said valve as the vehicle passes thereover. A plurality of such valves along the length of the vehicle may be so closed as the vehicle passes to allow air to escape and propel the vehicle as described.

In the latter described embodiment, each such ball valve or other form of coil spring closed valve may be retained closed to permit air to flow upwardly and forwardly as a stream or streams by fluidic controlled means or a raillike means projecting downwardly from the vehicle along the length thereof it is desired to keep the valve closed by contact therewith to permit the upward flow of air for the time the vehicle is over the valve.

In yet another form of the invention, the vehicle may contain one or more electric motor driven fans or turbines generating a sufficient flow of air which is directed downwardly to lift the vehicle and propell it as described, in either the forward or rearward direction depending on direction of flow of air from the vehicle. Two or more conducting metal strips may be provided in the track or bed 11, 11a, 11b, vl'lc, 11d etc. and protruding outwardly therefrom for conducting electrical energy to power the fan or turbine motor in the vehicle. Spring loaded brush or roller contacting devices may extend from the vehicle to engage said strips as the vehicle is propelled over said traok. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. 3,500,581 issued Mar. 17, '1970 for Vehicle Trackway Toy of which the instant invention is a continuation-in-part for further details of track construction have such mentioned metal strip conductors provided therein. The thin metal strips, for example, may extend into and upwardly from the solid upper portion of track 11a adjacent the passageway 16 or adjacent the passaelway of track 11 of FIG. 1. Pair of electrically conducting strips may also be extruded with the wall portions of the other track embodiments illustrated.

I claim:

1. A vehicle propulsion system comprising in combination:

a trackway including an elongated tubular portion extending the length of said trackway, said tubular portion being narrower in width than the vehicle and shaped for guiding said vehicle in a path longitudinally along said trackiway,

a first passageway extending longitudinally along substantially the entire length of said tubular portion,

air-pressurizing means connected to said passageway for flowing air into said passageway,

a plurality of branch passageways extending through the wall of said tubular portion at spaced intervals along the length thereof,

means for supporting said trackway with said branch passageways facing upwardly,

each of said branch passageways being inclined in the direction of travel of said vehicle along said trackway,

said vehicle having a shaped portion adapted to straddle and be guided along said tubular portion of said trackway during its travel,

means for power operating said air-pressurizing means in the manner to force air into said passageway under sufiicient pressure to cause said air to flow through said passageway and to be ejected from all of said branch passageways along said tubular portion of said trackway as a plurality of fluid streams in a manner to react on and float said vehicle above said trackway and to exert sufficient force on the vehicle in one direction along said trackway to cause said vehicle to travel in said direction along said trackway 2. A system in accordance with claim 1, there being a second passageway in said trackway extending parallel to said first passageway, a plurality of branch passageways in said second passageway inclined upwardly and in a direction opposite to that of the branch passageways in said first passageway and means for flowing air under pressure into said second passageway.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, including a two-way valve having an input from said air-pressurizing means and respective outputs to said first and second passageways, said valve being operative to gate air under pressure to one of said passageways at a time, said branch passageways in said second passageway being operative to direct respective streams of air for propelling a vehicle along said track-way in the direction opposite to that it is propelled by air ejected from said first branch passageways, and means for operating said valve to selectively gate air to one of said passageways.

4. A system in accordance with claim '1, said trackway comprising an elongated tubular extrusion made of flexible plastic and containing said passageway for pressurized air, and a second passageway extending longitudinally through said extrusion parallel to said first passageway, said second passageway containing a bendable metal wire capable of retaining its shape as bent and permitting said trackway to be hand bent to different desired configurations.

5. A system in accordance with claim 4-, in which said elongated extrusion has a bottom surface adapted to lie flat on a horizontal surface for retaining said trackway in an upright attitude with said branch passageways facing upwardly.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1, in which said trackway has generally sloped side walls and a fiat upper wall and said vehicle has side walls operative to travel above said sloped side walls, a bottom wall of said vehicle extending substantially parallel to and above said fiat upper wall of said trackway, said bottom and side walls of said vehicle being configured to define sheetlike volumes between said sloped side walls and upper wall of said trackway between which air from said branch passageways may flow in a manner to support said vehicle on a film of air above said trackway, the spacing of said branch passageways along said trackway being such that at least one branch passageway is always supplying air to said volumes between said vehicle bottom and side walls and the trackway to always maintain said vehicle in a floating attitude above said trackway.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, in which said bottom wall of said vehicle contains a plurality of downwardly facing rib-like protrusions extending laterally across said bottom wall to provide reaction surfaces for air directed from said branch passageways.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1, including means for supporting said trackway above a surface, a carriage movable above and along said trackway, means for suspending said vehicle from said carriage below said trackway.

said trackway and parallel to said first passageway, said second passage/way containing a bendable metal wire capable of retaining its shape as bent and permitting said trackway to be hand bent to different desired configurations, and

means for power operating said air-pressurizing means in a manner to force air into said passageway under v9. A vehicle propulsion system in accordance with claim .1, whereby said trackway has a fiat central portion and guides for the wheels of a wheeled vehicle protruding upwardly from said flat portion.

10 A vehicle propulsion system comprising in com- 5 bination with a vehicle:

a trackway made of flexible plastic and having an elongated tubular portion extending the length of said trackway, said trackway being shaped for guiding said sufiicient pressure to cause said air to flow through said passageway and to be ejected from all of said vehicle in a path longitudinally therealong, 10 branch passageways along said tubular portion as a first passageway extending longitudinally along suba plurality of fluid streams for reacting and floating stantially the entire length of said tubular portion, said vehicle above said trackway and for exerting air-pressurizing means connected to said first passagesulficient force on the vehicle in one direction to way and operable for flowing air into said passagecause said ivehicle to travel in said direction along way, 15 said trackway.

a plurality of branch passageways extending through the Wall of said tubular portion at spaced intervals along the length thereof,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS means for supporting said trackway with said branch 2155 11317 5/1951 Damiano 46-446 passageways facing upwardly, 20 2,918,183 12/1959 Petersen et al 4644- UX each of said branch passageways being inclined in 31367165 2/1968 Bayha 4644 X the direction of travel of said vehicle along said trackway, a second passageway extending longitudinally through LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner D. L. WEINHOLD, In, Assistant Examiner 

